Monthly Archives: November 2013

Get Help: Birth Defects from Effexor

If you were taking the anti-depressant Effexor while pregnant, and your eagerly awaited bundle of joy has suffered birth defects from Effexor, we may be able to get your child the help they need. Unfortunately, the scenario has started manifesting itself around the country, with distraught parents being confronted by the serious complications brought about by the drug.

If you need help with a zoloft lawsuit, which is also an ssri like effexor, we can help you.

How Birth Defects from Effexor are Caused

Effexor is mainly used as an antidepressant. The FDA approved it to be used for only four illnesses, yet physicians have often gone around the system, prescribing it for other uses; which is growing in popularity. Effexor works by regulating levels of stress hormones which enable the brain to detect pain; and subsequently cause bad moods. For this reason, it has been found to help patients suffering from a wide spectrum of stress conditions, including migraines and generalized anxiety disorders.

When taken in the first trimester of pregnancy, there are heightened chances of having a baby who has potentially life- threatening conditions. There are different grades for drug safety, which are assigned to specific medications by the FDA. Effexor was given Grade C. This is a grade given to pharmaceutical products which have been PROVEN to harm lab animal babies, if the mothers are administered high doses of the product, during pregnancy.

Characteristics of Birth Defects from Effexor

Attorneys are beginning cases on behalf of women whose children have been found to have suffered from a host of complications from the medication. If a new mother finds that their infant is suffering from these injuries, they may be eligible for representation in court. The following are characteristics of the side effects on the newborns, and may be used as a basis for investigation;

There is Help: Contact Our Lawyers

If a parent finds out that their newborn has suffered from injuries caused by this dangerous drug, it is important to first and foremost seek medical advice. After all has been done medically, the parent should seek legal advice regarding the direction they should take in receiving redress for their child’s illness.

Our attorneys have extensive experience representing those who have been personally injured, especially by top drug firm’s dangerous medications. They understand the tribulations and hardships suffered by parents who unexpectedly deliver a child that suffers from a birth defect. They aggressively fight for compensation for all the life threatening injustices that occurred to the newborn, and have been credited with playing a role in the awards of millions of dollars to families whose kids were born, needlessly, with congenital conditions.

Currently, there is a pending lawsuit against the manufacturers of Effexor; which is a class action. Our attorneys are standing by to answer any questions you might have on your eligibility to file a lawsuit. Contact us today at 1-800-499-6652 or complete the form on this page for a free claim review. If you seek to join the class action lawsuit, you will help ensure that the effects of birth defects from Effexor are not replicated in future generations.

Effexor and Pregnancy Side Effects

For a long while, the effects of Effexor and Pregnancy were unknown. Only after the drug remained on the market for years was it noticed that fetuses that were exposed to Effexor before birth have a high risk of developing side effects. The side effects include developmental delays, lung and heart defects. Though little research on risk & pregnancy defects has been conducted, similar anti-depressant medications have resulted to serious risks on the newborn babies.

Effexor (venlafaxine) is included in the list of SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors). This means that it inhibits the uptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. Wyeth, the manufacturer, claims that Effexor helps increase levels of norepinephrine and serotonin between the cells of the brain, which boosts transmission of the electrical signals in the brain and improves the overall wellbeing of the patient.

Recent studies have raised eyebrows over Effexor’s side effects although the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved it anyway. Recent research has shown that women who were using Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in their 1st trimester of the pregnancy have a 40% greater risk of bearing malformed babies. They also have a 60% higher risk of having babies with heart defects.

Another study shows a link between SSRIs & major malformations such as the cardiac malformation. The risk is higher to women who had prescriptions for Effexor filled in the 30 days before conception through the end of the 1st trimester in comparison with those who had no Effexor prescriptions during the same period.

Effexor and Pregnancy has been placed in Category C by the FDA. It implies that FDA knows that it causes risk to the unborn if used during pregnancy.

Effexor and Pregnancy Developmental Delays

A recent study has linked babies exposed to Effexor during the 2nd and/or 3rd trimester of pregnancy to numerous developmental delays. The delays included walking later and delay in sitting upright without support compared to children not exposed to Effexor. The children exposed to Effexor sat 16 days later & walked a month later when compared to children not exposed to Effexor.

At the age of 19 months, the exposed children had difficulty occupying themselves above 15 minutes compared to children not exposed to Effexor.

Researchers concluded that Effexor and pregnancy use had a permanent or reversible effect on the fetal brain development though the intensity depends on which trimester the fetus was exposed.

Effexor and Pregnancy Defects

· Club foot – one or two feet turn inward and downward and may be deformed

· Anal Atresia – partial or complete closure of the anus.

· Neural-tube defects – brain & spinal cord defects.

· Craniosynostosis – an abnormally shaped skull.

Serotonin Norepinephrine Re-uptake Inhibitors (SNRI)

Effexor is used to treat serious depression & other mood disorders. Effexor works by increasing the levels of both serotonin & norepinephrine which are the major transmitters in the brain. Pristiq, also known as desvenlafaxine, is a major anti-depressant drug manufactured by Pfizer that has side effects similar to Effexor.

We can get you the help you need to cover your infant’s medical care and pain and suffering. Call us now at 1-800-499-6652 or complete the form on this page today for a free case review. If your newborn has been negatively affected by your use of Effexor or another anti-depressant during pregnancy, contact us today to see if you qualify to file a lawsuit on the effects of Effexor and pregnancy.

Information Regarding Effexor Birth Defects

Effexor birth defects can occur in infants born to mothers who took the drug during pregnancy. Effexor is meant to manage depression. It belongs to the antidepressant class of drugs known as (SNRIs). SNRI is an abbreviation for Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake Inhibitor. These drugs are intended to treat generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. These drugs are said to reduce diabetic neuropathy pain and treat depression and anxiety.

Unfortunately, while Effexor is effective in its intended purpose, it may leave you with adverse side effects that can change your life negatively. Some defects associated with the use of Effexor include cleft palate and clubbed foot. Other dangerous Effexor birth complications include heart, respiratory, and neural birth defects.

Effexor and Birth Defects

Effexor is manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. The company was later bought by Pfizer Inc. Effexor is the brand name for the drug Venlafaxine.

According to a recent research study, women taking Effexor that are intending to get pregnant and those that are in their first trimester of pregnancy have a 40% greater risk of their child suffering from Effexor birth defects. These women also have a 60% greater risk of their child developing Effexor birth defects of the heart if they continue to use Effexor during pregnancy.

Effexor Birth Defects Lawsuits

Multiple Effexor lawsuits have been filed across the nation by parents whose children were born with Effexor birth defects. The first lawsuit was filed by an Ohio couple that sued Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Inc. for the Effexor birth defects that were exhibited in their daughter. Their child was born with severe heart defects and she died shortly after she was born.

In one case in Pennsylvania, a child was born with Craniosynostosis. This Effexor birth defect is described as a condition in which the skull forms with too little room for the brain to fit in.

Another well-known lawsuit was filed by Melissa Beatty in Ohio in 2005. The mother claimed that her daughter was born with several heart anomalies. She was suing the manufacturer for failing to disclose important information regarding the use of Effexor to patients, especially expectant mothers and women of a childbearing age.

The plaintiff also claimed that the manufacturing company failed to disclose accurate data regarding the studies and tests done on the drug to the FDA. Because of the company, her daughter now suffers several physical complications in addition to mental anguish, emotional pain, annihilation from society and other injuries and losses.

Another couple sued Wyeth in a medical malpractices and product liability lawsuit claiming that their daughter was born with severe heart defects that forced her to undergo surgery and still expects more surgeries to correct the heart defect in the future.The lawsuits are numerous. These are just a few examples.

The Best Course of Action

Depending on the degree of Injury to your child, an Effexor birth defects lawyer will advise you on the best lawsuit to pursue. You may be advised to join an Effexor birth defects class action or to file an individual lawsuit. The difference is that compensation is usually fixed for class action suits and the plaintiffs are represented by a pre-selected group of attorneys.

In an individual lawsuit, the plaintiff has the luxury of choosing their own Effexor birth defects attorney. The compensation amount is also flexible. There are no fixed limits on how much compensation the plaintiff may receive.

Some cases are better addressed in a class action, but you need to consult a qualified Effexor birth defects attorney who can get an understanding of your unique situation and advise you on the best course of action for your lawsuit.

Effexor Birth Defects and the Future Health of Your Child

If your child was born with Effexor birth defects because of your consumption of the drug during pregnancy, you may be entitled to compensation. No amount of money can totally erase what has happened, but it may help to cover expenses and aid in helping you and your child return to a stable life. You may be in pain because of the suffering that your child is undergoing as a result of the Effexor birth defects. An experienced drug injury attorney may be able to secure you a settlement to help your child grow up healthfully and comfortably. Because of the disadvantage he or she may have as a result of the Effexor birth defects, she or he may require special attention or specialized treatment. If you do not seek compensation, you are failing to consider the future of your child.

Your child deserves a good life. The money may not fully restore your child’s health but it can enable you and your family to access the best health care, take him or her to a school that offers special care, and also ensure that the financial future of your child is secured. Secure your child’s future today.

Find a Qualified Effexor Birth Defects Attorney

Our expert legal team can fight for your justice in court. If you choose to be represented in court by an Effexor birth defects attorney from our team, you are almost certain of getting a maximum compensation. We identify with your frustration and we want to help you. We can only do this if you allow us to represent you in court.

Fees may pose a stumbling block to many willing clients, however all case evaluations are free. The only fees you will pay are if, and when you receive a settlement from the manufacturer. Do not be worried that you might not be able to meet such costs. The attorney only receives a small percentage of your settlement amount. The court is also able to award you lawyer fees that will compensate for any fees you have used in securing an attorney to represent you. Because of the zeal of the Effexor attorneys in our firm, you will likely receive a substantial compensation that will also make your life more comfortable.

Do not continue to suffer in silence because of Effexor birth defects. Seek our help today and improve your life and the life of your child. We can be reached at 1-800-499-6652. You can also fill out our online form and we will contact you regarding the Effexor birth defects of your child.